Slavey | |
---|---|
Dene K'e | |
Native to | Canada |
Region | Northwest Territories |
Ethnicity | Slavey people |
Native speakers
|
2,350 (2011 census) |
Official status | |
Official language in
|
North and South Slavey both official in Northwest Territories (Canada) |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-2 | den |
ISO 639-3 |
– inclusive codeIndividual codes: – North Slavey – South Slavey |
Glottolog | slav1253 |
Slavey (/ˈsleɪvi/; also Slave, Slavé) is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations of Canada in the Northwest Territories where it also has official status. The language is written using Canadian Aboriginal syllabics or the Latin script.
North Slavey (Sahtúot’ı̨nę Yatı̨́) is spoken by the Sahtu (North Slavey) people in the Mackenzie District along the middle Mackenzie River from Tulita (Fort Norman) north, around Great Bear Lake, and in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Canadian territory of Northwest Territories.
Statistics: Speakers: 1,235 (2006 Statistics Canada)
Alternate names: Slavi, Dené, Mackenzian, Slave
Northern Slavey is an amalgamation of three separate dialects:
South Slavey (ᑌᓀ ᒐ Dene-thah, Dené Dháh or Dene Zhatıé) is spoken by the Slavey (South Slavey) people, which were also known as Dehghaot'ine, Deh Cho, Etchareottine - “People Dwelling in the Shelter", in the region of Great Slave Lake, upper Mackenzie River (Deh Cho - “Big River") and its drainage, in the District of Mackenzie, northeast Alberta, northwest British Columbia.